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Richie said he was from Milford, Mass., but that he was out of the country on a big construction job.

He was helping build a stadium in Nigeria, he said. I had no qualms whatsoever cashing (the money orders)," Smalley said.

As soon as he returned, he promised, he'd come visit Smalley in Ohio. The spirited e-mail romance hummed along for another two months before there was a problem. Even after the bank told her the money orders had been altered — they were purchased for , but then "washed" and doctored to read 0 — she still held out hope.

"When they invented the car, the con artist could drive to the next county.When Theresa Smalley received a note from Richie last January asking if she wanted to chat, she was flattered. The two began exchanging e-mails, friendly at first, but quickly swelling in intensity and passion.By Valentine's Day, Smalley received a box of chocolate candy, a teddy bear, and a helium balloon that said "I love you." Smalley, 46, was hooked, even though she had never met him.The goods are often purchased with stolen credit cards, but the con artists have trouble getting them delivered out of the country, because many U. Sluppick said one confused victim in her Yahoo support group currently has about ,000 in merchandise that's been sent to her home, and she doesn't know what to do with it.The Merchant Risk Council's Ferguson said victims can always contact her agency for help returning merchandise to the retailers.